Happy New Year!

"Happy New Year" will teach children not only that different cultures around the world celebrate the new year in many different ways, but that they also do it at different times of the year. This book also takes us into the past to learn how the ancient Greeks, Romans and Druids viewed the coming of the new year. Emery Bernhard explains how in ancient times people were not always sure that spring would come again and so there were rituals involved to help appease the gods and spirit. Consequently, this book explains not only how the people of Bali, Ecuador, Japan, Egypt and so on welcome the new year but why they do what they do. We learn why noise-making is important in greeting the new year, why the Burmese pour buckets of water on each other, and why Jewish families eat apples dipped in honey. Children will learn about customs from throughout the world, some of which they would even be able to do in their own classrooms. For example, in Columbia the tradition is to put an egg in a glass of water and watching how it changes to predict what will happen in the coming new year. Sounds like fun, huh? Artist Durga Bernhard provides colorful illustrations for each of the many lands children will visit in reading this informative book. Remember, this book can be useful for any time when people are celebrating their new year and not just at the end of our calendar year.